Weapon accessory bracket

ABSTRACT

A bracket is disclosed for coupling a weapon accessory to a weapon. The bracket includes a bracket housing that defines a space for receiving a self-contained energy storage device, such as a battery or the like, and a means to transfer electrical energy from a self-contained energy storage device in the space to a weapon accessory mounted onto the bracket housing. The weapon accessory requires electrical energy to operate, but does not have its own built-in source of electrical energy. Instead, the weapon accessory receives the electrical energy it needs to operate from one or more self-contained energy storage devices in the bracket.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of GB Patent Application serialnumber 1412527.2, filed Jul. 15, 2014, entitled “Weapon AccessoryBracket,” which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure relates to a weapon accessory bracket and, moreparticularly, to a weapon accessory bracket that is able to deliverelectrical energy to a weapon accessory, such as a weapon sight, that ismounted to the bracket.

BACKGROUND

Numerous weapon accessories (e.g., sights, etc.) require electricalenergy to operate. Typically, each weapon accessory has its own built-insource of electrical energy. In some instances, the source of electricalenergy is a battery pack that may or may not be removable from thesight.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, a bracket is disclosed for coupling a weapon accessory toa weapon. The bracket includes a bracket housing that defines a spacefor receiving a self-contained energy storage device, such as a batteryor the like, and a means to transfer electrical energy from aself-contained energy storage device in the space to a weapon accessorymounted onto the bracket housing. The weapon accessory requireselectrical energy to operate, but does not have its own built-in sourceof electrical energy. Instead, the weapon accessory receives theelectrical energy it needs to operate from one or more self-containedenergy storage devices in the bracket.

Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description anddrawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a side view of an assembly that includes a gun and a sightconnected to the gun via a mounting bracket and an accessory rail.

FIG. 1B is an exploded side view of the assembly in FIG. 1B.

FIG. 2 is a perspective, partial internal view of the mounting bracketin FIGS. 1A and 1B.

FIG. 3 is a top, partial internal view of the mounting bracket in FIG.2.

FIGS. 4A-4C are front views showing a sight, a mounting bracket and anaccessory rail in various stages of assembly.

FIG. 5 represents a mounting bracket that is physically and electricallycompatible with several different types of weapon accessories.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1A shows an exemplary assembly 100 that includes a weapon accessory(i.e., a sight 102) mounted onto a weapon (i.e., a gun 104). Moreparticularly, in the illustrated implementation, the sight 102 ismounted to a mounting bracket 106, which is mounted to an accessory rail108, which is mounted to the gun 104. The sight 102 requires electricalenergy to operate, but does not have its own built-in energy source.When assembled, the sight 102 receives the electrical energy it needs tooperate from one or more self-contained electrical energy sources, suchas batteries, that are in, coupled to and/or form part of the mountingbracket 106.

Since the sight 102 does not have its own built-in energy source, thesight 102 can be made smaller and lighter than it otherwise would be ifit did have its own built-in energy source. A smaller and lighter sight102 can be very desirable, particularly if a person (e.g., a soldier),wants to carry around more than one sight for use with a particular gun.Some of these sights may be replacement sights in case a primary sightstops working properly; some of these sights may offer differentfunctionality than a primary sight. In those instances, the smaller andlighter weight of each sight can make it easier to carry around howevermany sights, with however many different types of functionality onedesires.

Moreover, in a typical implementation, sights having different types offunctionality (e.g., telescopic, night vision, etc.) can all be designedto be compatible, electrically and physically, with one single mountingbracket design. This can enable a person (e.g., a soldier) to accessdifferent types of sight functionality by swapping out different typesof sights on one gun.

In some implementations, sights and mounting brackets can be designed tomake it relatively easy to swap out different types of sights on onemounting bracket. This can make it easy for a person (e.g., a soldier)to access the varying functionalities of the different sights easily andin the field.

In a typical implementation, therefore, the concepts disclosed hereinmay make it easier for a soldier, for example, to have easy access to alarge number of different weapon accessory functionalities.

FIG. 1B is an exploded view of the assembly 100 in FIG. 1A.

The exploded view in FIG. 1B makes clear that, in this implementation,the weapon 104, the accessory rail 108, the mounting bracket 106 and thesight 102 are all physically distinct components, which, when assembled,are held together using various temporary fastening devices (e.g.,screws, clamps, and the like). In general, the phrase “physicallydistinct,” and variations thereof, should be construed asdistinguishable as physically separate or discrete. Thus, two componentsmay be considered physically distinct even if they have been joinedtogether temporarily (e.g., by using fasteners, such as screws, clamps,bolts, or the like) as long as they are distinguishable as physicallyseparate or discrete components. Two or more components that have beenjoined together with fasteners may be considered physically separate ordiscrete if, for example, simply removing the fasteners would enable thetwo components to be physically separated from one another. Thus,although the weapon 104, the accessory rail 108, the mounting bracket106 and the sight 102 in FIG. 1A are joined together temporarily (e.g.,with screws, clamps or the like), they are physically distinctcomponents because removing the fasteners that hold them together wouldenable them to be physically separated from one another. Two componentsshould not be considered physically distinct if, for example, they havebeen permanently joined together (e.g., by welding, soldering, or thelike) or have been integrally cast, molded or otherwise formed as asingle physical unit.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of showing an exemplary design for themounting bracket 106 in FIG. 1. Some of the internal components of themounting bracket are shown with dashed lines in FIG. 2.

In general, the illustrated mounting bracket 106 has: A) a brackethousing 212 that defines a space (e.g., a battery compartment 214) forreceiving one or more self-contained energy storage devices (e.g.,batteries, not shown in FIG. 2); B) a means for transferring electricalenergy from the self-contained energy storage devices in the space to aweapon accessory (e.g., sight 102 in FIG. 1) mounted onto the brackethousing 212.

It is important to note that the bracket 106 shown in FIG. 2 representsonly one specific bracket design. Numerous variations are possible andfall within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, in variousimplementations, the space for receiving the one or more self-containedenergy storage devices can have a variety of different configurations toaccommodate a different number and/or type of self-contained energystorage devices. Additionally, the means for transferring electricalenergy from the self-contained energy storage device(s) in the space toa weapon accessory can be different from what is shown in FIG. 2. Forexample, the means for transferring the electrical energy can includevirtually any arrangement of electrically conductive and/orelectromagnetic components configured to transfer electrical energy fromthe self-contained energy storage device(s) in the space to a weaponaccessory. The bracket 106 can be made from virtually any suitablematerial or combination of materials. The bracket 106 can be virtuallyany size or shape to suit its intended functionality. Furthermore, thebracket 106 can include a variety of other features not shown in FIG. 2.Other variations in the bracket 106 are possible as well.

Referring now to the specific implementation shown in FIG. 2, theoverall bracket housing 212 essentially forms a clamp that is configuredto physically engage an accessory rail (e.g., a Picatinny rail or thelike) on a gun. In this regard, the bracket housing 212 has a firstclamping portion 220 a and a second clamping portion 220 b that isattached to the first clamping portion 220 a with a screw 222. The firstclamping portion 220 a and the second clamping portion 220 b are movablerelative to each other by manipulating the screw 222. For example, in atypical implementation, tightening the screw 222 would cause the firstclamping portion 220 a and the second clamping portion 220 b to becomecloser to each, whereas loosening the screw 222 would cause the firstclamping portion 220 a and the second clamping portion 220 b to moveapart from one another. Typically, the screw 222 is loosened to placethe bracket 106 over a Picatinny rail and then tightened to ensure thatthe bracket 106 is held in place securely in the rail.

Various modifications of the overall bracket design, including the waythat the bracket engages the weapon or accessory rail on the weapon, arepossible. For example, in some implementations, the bracket may includea quick-release mechanism for mounting the bracket onto the weapon oraccessory rail. Some examples of these quick-release mechanisms aredescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,393,105, entitled Floating Side Rail ClampWeapon Accessory Mount Adaptor, U.S. Pat. No. 8,020,335, entitled Mountfor Mounting Accessories on a Weapon, U.S. Pat. No. 4,845,871, entitledAttachment Device, and US Patent Application Publication No.2013/0160345, entitled Firearm Sight Mount. Portions of these referencesthat describe mechanisms for mounting a bracket onto a weapon, accessoryrail, or the like, are incorporated by reference herein.

In the illustrated implementation, the space for receiving one or moreself-contained energy storage devices is a battery compartment 214. Inthe illustrated implementation, the battery compartment is designed tocontain two “AA” batteries (not shown).

The means for transferring electrical energy from the self-containedenergy storage devices in the space to a weapon accessory (e.g., sight102 in FIG. 1) mounted onto the bracket housing 212. In the illustratedexample, the means for transferring energy includes: A) means toelectrically engage the self-contained energy storage devices in thespace 214, B) means to transfer electrical energy from the space 214 toa connection interface 218 for the weapon accessory (e.g., the sight),and C) the connection interface 218 itself.

In a typical implementation, such as the one shown, the means toelectrically engage the self-contained energy storage devices in thespace would include electrical conductors (not shown), such as metalstrips and springs, configured to securely hold and electrically engagethe terminals of one or more batteries in the space 214.

Moreover, in a typical implementation, such as the one shown, the meansto transfer electrical energy from the space 214 to a connectioninterface 218 for the weapon accessory (e.g., the sight) includeselectrical conductors that extend from the space 214, through thebracket housing 212 and to the connection interface 218 for the weaponaccessory.

Finally, in a typical implementation, such as the one shown, theconnection interface 218 for the weapon accessory includes: 1)electrical contacts 224 exposed for connection to correspondingelectrical contacts on a weapon accessory (e.g., a sight); and 2) holes226 for mounting screws to pass through and physically engage screwholes in the weapon accessory. Other configurations for physically andelectrically engaging the weapon accessory are possible as well. Ingeneral, however, in most instances, the connection interface 218 (and acorresponding connection interface on the weapon accessory) is designedto facilitate relatively easy installation and removal of the weaponaccessory on the bracket.

The connection interface 218 may have a variety of differentconfigurations. For example, in some implementations, the connectioninterface 218 (and the corresponding connection interface on the weaponaccessory) form a “hot shoe” style connector that is designed tophysically and electrically engage a corresponding connector on a weaponaccessory (e.g., a sight). An example of this kind of “hot shoe” styleconnector is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 8,443,539, entitled Rail Contactsfor Accessories Mounted on the Powered Rail of a Weapon and, inparticular, in FIGS. 8D to 8I of that patent, relevant portions of whichare incorporated by reference herein.

FIG. 2 shows one specific design of the means for transferringelectrical energy from the batteries to the weapon accessory. However,various modifications are possible. For example, in someimplementations, the means for transferring electrical energy may omitor include a significantly modified version of one or more of thecomponents shown. For example, in some implementations, the electricalconductors 216 could be significantly shortened or eliminated entirely.If the electrical conductors 216 are eliminated entirely, then the space214 that holds the batteries is designed so that the battery terminalscontact the weapon accessory connection interface 218 directly. Asanother example, in some implementations, both the electrical conductors216 and the weapon accessory connection interface 218 could beeliminated completely. In those instances, the space 214 that holds thebatteries is configured so that the battery terminals contactcorresponding electrical contacts on a weapon accessory that is mountedto the bracket 106.

There are a variety of ways that the weapon accessory (e.g., sight) maybe physically coupled to the bracket 106. In the illustrated example,there are two holes 226 that extend through the bracket housing 212 thatare sized to accommodate screws (not shown) that would pass in an upwarddirection through the holes to engage the weapon accessory. Anotherexample of this general approach for attaching a weapon accessory to amounting bracket is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 8,230,636, entitled AccessoryModule with Integrated Electronic Devices. Relevant portions of thereferenced patent are incorporated by reference herein.

FIG. 3 is a top, partial cut-away view of the bracket in FIG. 2.

The view in FIG. 3 shows a pair of batteries 326 (i.e., theself-contained energy storage devices) inside the battery compartment214. The view in FIG. 3 also shows electrical conductors, includingmetal strips 328 a and springs 328 b, configured to securely hold andelectrically engage the terminals of one or more batteries in the space214.

FIG. 4A-4C shows a sight 102, a mounting bracket 106 and an accessoryrail 108 in various stages of assembly.

The sight 102 requires electrical energy to operate, but does not haveits own built-in source of electrical energy. Instead, it is designed toreceive the electrical energy it needs to operate from one or moreself-contained energy storage devices in the bracket 106. The bracket106 has a housing that defines a space (not shown) for receiving the oneor more self-contained energy storage devices, and a means to transferelectrical energy from the one or more self-contained energy storagedevices in the space to the sight 102 when it is mounted to the bracket106.

In FIG. 4A, the sight 102, the mounting bracket 106 and the accessoryrail 108 are separate from one another (i.e., they have not yet beenconnected to each other).

FIG. 4B is similar to FIG. 4A in that it shows the sight 102, themounting bracket 106 and the accessory rail 108, but in FIG. 4B, thesight 102 is physically and electrically connected to the bracket 106.In this regard, screws 434 (see, e.g., FIG. 4A) pass from the bottom ofthe bracket 106, through holes in the bracket 106 and get screwed intoholes in the bottom of the sight 102.

FIG. 4C is similar to FIG. 4B in that it shows the sight 102, themounting bracket 106 and the accessory rail 108, and the sight 102 isphysically and electrically connected to the bracket 106, but in FIG.4C, the bracket 106 is also physically connected to the accessory rail108. In a typical implementation, this is accomplished by looseningscrew 222 to open the clamp (formed by the first and second clampingportions of the bracket housing), placing the clamp over a grippingportion of the rail 108, and then tightening the screw 222 to securelyfasten the clamp onto the gripping portion of the rail 108.

FIG. 5 is intended to represent a single mounting bracket 106 that isdesigned to be physically and electrically compatible with multipledifferent sights 502 a-502 n.

A number of embodiments of the invention have been described.Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

For example, the techniques and structures disclosed herein can beadapted for use in connection with any kind of weapon and any kind ofweapon accessory that requires electrical energy and is configured to bephysically attached to a weapon. Exemplary accessories may include, forexample, laser aiming modules, tactical lights, night vision sights, orthe like.

The specific physical and electrical design of the bracket and itsinternal components can be modified extensively. The relative sizeand/or shape of the different components and their positions relative tothe overall bracket and the other components can vary considerably.

The bracket can include virtually any type of self-contained energystorage device or combination of self-contained storage devices. Thesemay include, for example, one or more of the following: a battery, acapacitor and any other self-contained device that is capable ofsupplying electrical energy usable by the weapon accessory.

The bracket can include virtually any type of means for transferringenergy from the self-contained storage device(s) to a weapon accessorymounted on the bracket. The bracket can include virtually any type ofconnection interface for the weapon accessory. The bracket can beadapted to be connected to the weapon in any number of ways as well.

The bracket may be designed with additional structural or functionalfeatures not explicitly described above. In some implementations, forexample, the bracket, and one or more corresponding weapon accessories,may be designed to withstand particular environment stresses. Forexample, in some implementations, they may weather resistant orresistant to shock or G-forces. As another example, the bracket mayinclude inclusion of additional circuitry (e.g., control and/ormonitoring circuitry), back-up batteries, etc. If the bracket includescontrol circuitry, then the connection interface would likely includedata transfer capabilities as well. In some implementations, the bracketmay include an energy harvesting device that harvests recoil energy fromoperation of the weapon, for example. The bracket can include biologicalbatteries, super-capacitors, nano-batteries or an additive manufacturedbattery. The battery (or other storage device) may form some part of thebracket housing. The bracket could be designed to be attached to anytype of weapon accessory mount, not just an accessory rail. A singlebracket could be designed to include multiple accessory connectioninterfaces. The bracket could be designed with one or more storagecompartment to store spare batteries. The bracket could be used as acentralized power and data hub to provide power and communicate databetween different devices. In a typical implementation, the bracket isdesigned so that the electrical energy being supplied to the weaponaccessory is not noticeably interrupted during weapon firing.

Other implementations are within the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A bracket for coupling a weapon accessory to aweapon, the bracket comprising: a bracket housing that defines a spacefor receiving a self-contained energy storage device; and a means totransfer electrical energy from a self-contained energy storage devicein the space to a weapon accessory mounted onto the bracket housing. 2.The bracket of claim 1, wherein the weapon accessory requires electricalenergy to operate, but does not have its own built-in source ofelectrical energy.
 3. The bracket of claim 1, further comprising aself-contained energy storage device in the space defined by the brackethousing.
 4. The bracket of claim 3, wherein the self-contained energystorage device is selected from the group consisting of: a battery, acapacitor and any other self-contained device that is capable ofsupplying electrical energy usable by the weapon accessory.
 5. Thebracket of claim 1, wherein the bracket defines: a first structure tofacilitate physically mounting the bracket to the weapon or to anaccessory rail on the weapon; and a second structure to facilitatephysically mounting the weapon accessory to the bracket and deliveringthe electrical energy to the weapon accessory.
 6. The bracket of claim1, wherein the means to transfer electrical energy comprises one or moreelectrical conductors to electrically engage the self-contained energystorage device in the space.
 7. The bracket of claim 1, wherein themeans to transfer electrical energy comprises a means to physically andelectrically engage the weapon accessory.
 8. The bracket of claim 7,wherein the means to physically and electrically engage the weaponaccessory is configured such that physically engaging the weaponaccessory also results in electrically engaging the weapon accessory. 9.The bracket of claim 1, wherein the bracket is physically distinct fromthe weapon and the weapon accessory.
 10. The bracket of claim 1, whereinthe weapon is a gun and the weapon accessory is a sight for the gun. 11.A bracket for coupling a weapon accessory to a weapon, the bracketcomprising: a bracket housing that defines a space for receiving aself-contained energy storage device; a means to electrically engage theself-contained energy storage device in the space so that electricalenergy from the self-contained energy storage device can be delivered toa weapon accessory coupled to the bracket housing; a means to facilitatephysically mounting the bracket to the weapon or to an accessory rail onthe weapon; and a means to facilitate physically mounting the weaponaccessory to the bracket and to facilitate delivery of the electricalenergy to the weapon accessory, wherein the weapon accessory requireselectrical energy to operate, but does not have its own built-in sourceof electrical energy.
 12. The bracket of claim 11, further comprising aself-contained energy storage device in the space defined by the brackethousing, wherein the self-contained energy storage device is selectedfrom the group consisting of: a battery, a capacitor and any otherself-contained device that is capable of supplying electrical energyusable by the weapon accessory.
 13. The bracket of claim 11, wherein themeans to facilitate physically mounting the weapon accessory to thebracket and to facilitate delivery of the electrical energy to theweapon accessory is configured such that physically engaging the weaponaccessory also results in electrically engaging the weapon accessory.14. The bracket of claim 11, wherein the bracket is physically distinctfrom the weapon and the weapon accessory.
 15. The bracket of claim 11,wherein the weapon is a gun and the weapon accessory is a sight for thegun.
 16. An assembly comprising: a bracket comprising: a bracket housingthat defines a space for receiving a self-contained energy storagedevice; and means to transfer electrical energy from a self-containedenergy storage device in the space to a weapon accessory mounted ontothe bracket housing; and a weapon accessory mounted onto the bracket,wherein the weapon accessory requires electrical energy to operate, butdoes not have its own built-in source of electrical energy.
 17. Theassembly of claim 16, further comprising: a weapon, wherein the bracketis mounted onto the weapon or onto an accessory rail coupled to theweapon.
 18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the bracket is physicallydistinct from the weapon and the weapon accessory.
 19. The assembly ofclaim 17, wherein the weapon is a gun and the weapon accessory is asight for the gun.
 20. The assembly of claim 16, further comprising aself-contained energy storage device in the space defined by the brackethousing, wherein the self-contained energy storage device is selectedfrom the group consisting of: a battery, a capacitor and any otherself-contained device that is capable of supplying electrical energyusable by the weapon accessory.
 21. The assembly of claim 16, whereinthe bracket further defines: a first structure to facilitate physicallymounting the bracket to a weapon or to an accessory rail on the weapon;and a second structure to facilitate physically mounting the weaponaccessory to the bracket and delivering the electrical energy to theweapon accessory.
 22. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the means totransfer electrical energy comprises one or more electrical conductorsto electrically engage the self-contained energy storage device in thespace.
 23. The bracket of claim 22, wherein the means to transferelectrical energy comprises means to physically and electrically engagethe weapon accessory.
 24. The bracket of claim 23, wherein the means tophysically and electrically engage the weapon accessory is configuredsuch that physically engaging the weapon accessory also results inelectrically engaging the weapon accessory.
 25. The assembly of claim16, wherein the weapon accessory has one or more electrical terminalsconfigured to engage corresponding electrical terminals on the bracketwhen the weapon accessory is physically engaged to the bracket.
 26. Acollection of components for mounting to a weapon, the collection ofcomponents comprising: a single bracket for mounting a weapon accessoryto a weapon, the bracket comprising: a bracket housing that defines aspace for receiving a self-contained energy storage device; and one ormore electrical conductors configured to electrically engage theself-contained energy storage device in the space for deliveringelectrical energy to a weapon accessory coupled to the bracket housing;and a plurality of weapon accessories comprising a first type of weaponaccessory and a second type of weapon accessory that is different thanthe first type of weapon accessory, wherein the first type of weaponaccessory and the second type of weapon accessory are interchangeablesuch that they both are configured to physically and electrically engagethe bracket.
 27. The collection of components in claim 26, wherein thefirst and second types of weapon accessories require electrical energyto operate, but do not include a built-in electrical energy sources.